COVID-19 Domestic Violence Country Updates: Norway
Friday, August 14, 2020 2:10 PM

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In Norway, since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a decrease in reporting of domestic violence. Chief of the Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service, Kristin Kvigne, notes that the decrease in reporting is a result of victims not having access to reporting mechanisms, as opposed to a decrease in violence. The Norwegian police department has emphasized that one of their priorities during this time is to protect victims of domestic violence. In an effort to make reporting more accessible, victims of domestic violence can now use the code word “mask 19” at pharmacies to ask for help and for authorities and agencies to be alerted. Additionally, Prime Minister Erna Solberg has acknowledged the disparate impact that stay-at-home orders have on women and girls and has been working with the government to prioritize victim protection.